Nine Companies Bid for Hellenic Shipyards

Nine companies expressed interest in the privatization of Hellenic Shipyards at Skaramanga, part of the country's privatization agenda for 2001, the development ministry reported.

The government's advisers on the project will shortlist bidders in the next 15 days and then ask for binding bids for the shipyard, whose major shareholders are ETBA Bank and workers. The ministry expects the project to be concluded by June.

The companies that expressed interest are: Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie; General Electric Company; Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG-Ferrostaal AG; Louis Cruise Lines Ltd ; Mentor Technologies; Elefsina Industrial Companies SA; Pacific & Atlantic Corporation; Royal Schelde BV-Damen Shipyards Group BV; and Vosper Thornycroft Ltd.